Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-05

| nau submitted 10 the Committee was CN-
pressed in the form of bill which he would
have printed in the Record, and along with
it he would have printed the plan submit.
ted at the last moment by the House Con-
ferees. The country would judge between
these propositions and decide where the
blame lay for the failure by this Congress
to do anything towards inaugurating some
efficient system of fortifcatioD.
The irreconcilable difference between the
Senate managers and House managers was
on the question of purchasing steel for the
purpose of making steel guns of the high
est type. The question might be summed
in one sentence. Whether steel guns
should be subOrdinated to cast-iron guns,
or cast-iron guns subordinated to the
highest type of steel guns.
FORTS LEFT TO RACK AND RUIN.
Mr. Hawley (another of the cOnferees)
said that he desired to emphasize the most
extraordinary condition of affairs; there
was no Fertilization bill for the current
year, nor for the next year. So far as con-
cerned the army coast defenses and the
heavy guns, nothing whatever had been
done. There was no money to cut the
grass along the glacis Of the forts or to buy
shingles or nails for the old sheds and
dwellings of the forts-not one solitary
cent. The work was stopped and all the
property at these forts were left to rack
and ruin for the coming two years.
The simple statement of that fact was q
most extraordinary indictment" of some
body. He had no doubt whatever that,
if the whole subject could have been left
open to the full and free deliberatiOn in
Congress, something would baye been done
which would have been q credit to the
country. So far as the Senate was concern
ed, the Record would show that the debates
and votes on both sides Of the chamber
had been fully up to the popular demand.
He could not fathOm the motive of those
men who had practically plucked away
and forbidden Congress to do anything In
this matter. He knew that there had
been hanging around the halls and corri-
dOrs of the Capitol men representing the
insOlyent concern that wanted to manu-
facture twelve-inch cast-irOn guns and in
Vulnerable cast-irOn mOrtars. Men had
tried to tie Congress to those worn out old
projects; but they had completely failed.
Thanks to some patriotism, Congress had
agreed to order vessels for the navy and
guns of the modern type for the ships; and
it had been placed within the hands OF the
Secretary of the Navy to enter into con-
tracts for Il, 600 tons of forged steel Of the
best class. lie predicted that before next
December there would be in this country
plant capable of taking any contract for
steel.
GORMAN'S EXPLANATIONS
Mr.. German (the third conferee) thought
that neither of his fellow cOnferees had
stated the matter fairly. After long con-
ference all had agreed that the Board
chould consist of the Secretary Of War, the
Secretary of the Navy, the General of the
Army and two civilians, TO be appointed
by the President. The proposition had
come up to buy $6,000,OOO worth Of
steel, to he manufactured in the Gov
ernment shops. AS to that, there was
no difference Of opinion, but it was
coupled with the condition from the
House cOniereeS that an additional ap-
preparation should be made, throwing
open to the inventive genius Cf the cOun-
try to manufacture guns. The House
ConfereeS knew that there was sufficient
talent, enterprise and skill in the manu-
facturers of the country not only to pro-
duCe the steel, but to make the guns. 1t
had been also insisted upon, with great
force, by the House cOntereeS that it would
be unwise for the Government to con-
tract for so large an amount Of steel until
the actual tests had been made by firing
the guns.
At this point Mr.. German yielded the
floor temporarily, and the conference re-
port was laid aside informally in order to
let other matters of business be rushed
through.
The following bills were passed: Senate
bill appropriating $50, 600 for the expenses
of Senate investigations ordered this Ses-
sion; House bill for the loan OF Govern
ment articles to the Industrial Exposition
at Minneapolis; House bill apprOpriating
500, 600 for q public building at East
Saginaw, Mich; to amend the act for the
construction OF bridges across the Cumber-
land and Caney Fork rivers in Tennessee.
The conference report on the bill to
amend the national banking law by adding
to the number of reserve" cities was
agreed to. The bill is in the nature of
substitute and designates San FranciscOby
name.
Senators Sherman and Salisbury were
appointed to join like committee on the
part of the House to wait on the President
aud inform him that the two houses had
completed their business and were ready to
adjourn, unless he had something further
tn submit to them.
Messrs. COckerell, Harris, Jones of Ar
kansas, Platt and CullOm were announced
as the committee to investigate the eXecu-
tive departments; MeSsrs. DOiph and
Cockerell to attend the annual exhibition
at the Military Academy, and Senators
Aldrich and Gray rs members of the Board
of Examiners of the Naval Academy.
4 resolution of thanks to the presiding
officer for his courtesy and impartlallty
WAS offered by Mr.. Harris and adopted.
The Senate adjourned without day at
1l:55 Il. m, Senate time; 1904 actual
time.
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